Food – Page 6 – NutriFoody Wholly Holism

Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe?

What are artificial sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are better known as sugar substitutes. Better yet we can say products that state they are “sugar free”. We definitely see that a lot in our grocery stores and sometimes we think that sugar free is better which may not always be the case because some are not actually natural and are still processed made sugars.

Normally when we use a sweetener we are stopping ourselves from reaching for the good ole granulated sugar that normally get. People go for artificial sweeteners because they do not add calories to your diet and you can use less of it because it provides that sweetness faster than table sugar does. Another plus of using artificial sweeteners is that they do not cause tooth decay and cavities like granulated table does. Also it is a better alternative for those with diabetes and for those trying to lose weight

because they do not raise your blood sugar (carbohydrates).

The FDA regulates the use of artificial sweeteners and it is considered an food additive. So the FDA approves all artificial sweeteners before you see them on grocery shelves.

So whats the 411 on these sweeteners?

Aside the from artificial sweeteners we also have novel sweeteners and sugar alcohols which I just recently learned a little more about. One of the big novel sweeteners that we all have heard about is Stevia and as for sugar alcohols they are still considered carbohydrates because they are naturally found in some fruits and vegetables. Sugar alcohols is not like an alcoholic drink because it doesn’t contain ethanol but it does contain calories. Sugar alcohols do have a laxative effect when consumed in large amounts so you must keep that in mind.

The biggest talk when it comes to these sweeteners is that it is said that they can cause cancer but research has been done and for the most part most of these sweeteners have not been found to be harmful. The most important thing when it comes to sugar is how much of it do you consume and use on a daily basis and this determines how it will effect your health. Moderation is key when it comes to using sugar and moderation is key when it comes to nutrition.

Examples of Natural Sweeteners:

Honey
Molasses
Agave
Coconut sugar
Maple Syrup

Examples of Novel Sweeteners :

Stevia

Examples of Sugar Alcohols:

Xylitol
Erythritol

FDA Approved Artificial Sugars:

Sunett
Equal
Splenda
Sugaree
Sweet ‘N Low

Acid Re-flux Update

Blogmas Day 10 – Health and Wellness

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Hey Everyone,

Lately on Youtube I have been seeing that everyone is doing Vlogmas and I love watching Vlogs. Since I am not on Youtube anymore and I am getting back into the groove of blogging I decided that I am going to do Blogmas! I thought that this would be interesting and get me used to writing more since I have been gone for a while. I am a bit late so I will be starting with day ten of Blogmas. I hope you all enjoy reading and Happy Holidays to All!

I say choose both because both are equally important and yes they both do mean different things. The real question I guess I want to ask is how well do we think we care of ourselves on a daily basis. The definition of Health is “ the state of being free from disease or injury” and the definition of wellness is “ the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal” (see references below).

Those definitions above is how health and wellness is defined by the World Health Organization but now I would like to break down how I view both. My definition of health goes beyond just the state of being free from disease or injury but it also deals with your mental health as well , how you think about yourself, how to do view the world or society, and how well do you cope in difficult life situations. I always viewed wellness as the ways in which you take care of yourself, such as eating right or a healthy balanced diet, being physically active, hygiene (hair , skin, and nails), and mental health such as yoga and meditation. All of these things are vital to us taking care of ourselves.

It all starts with YOU. A lot of us carry habits from when we were younger into adulthood such as eating fast foods and many people do not know what it is like to exercise. I will admit I was never a big fan of exercising but as I entered into my mid 20’s my physical health changed and I became weaker. I also gained a lot of weight in my mid 20’s and when I did begin to exercise I struggled but it also felt so good. Every time that I would exercise and go to the gym it felt like my mind was being cleared and free. Then when I was diagnosed with LPR Acid Reflux that was the point that I started to take my nutrition health more seriously, even though I was studying nutrition sciences in school it took awhile for me to apply it towards myself.

Don’t wait until something happens to you to take care of yourself. Take preventive measures to make sure that you are in good health and maintaining homeostasis. Take control of your life and your health!

Reference Links:

Definition of Health : https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/constitution

Definition of Wellness: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/wellness

What Are The Best Reflux Recipe Books?

March 29, 2019June 13, 2019Leave a comment

Excuse me all for as I have been away for quite some time but now I am back! As you guys already know from reading through my blog I have LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux) Acid Reflux. It not has been an easy journey with acid reflux and I’ve had many moments where I have struggled through it. Psychologically and emotionally at one point, I thought that I would never be able to eat a normal diet ever again. It took a lot of hard work and effort but now I am in a much better place with managing my reflux. As much as you can take medications for reflux it is 80 percent about your diet and what you are eating. So eventually you will have to make those necessary changes in food choices that you will carry with you for years to come.

On my Instagram page: @ Acidrefluxx_ many of my followers have been asking me what are some of the best recipe books for acid reflux. To answer that there are many to choose from. What I do before purchasing any is books is making sure I skim through the reviews and check the contents page to see if the recipes are ones that interest me and I am willing to try out because everyone has their preferences.

Where Does The “Acid” Come From in Acid Reflux?

April 18, 2018April 19, 2018Leave a comment

The Stomach contains what is known as Gastric Acid, Gastric Juices, or Stomach Acids. The reason why we have all these acids in our stomach is due to the fact that acids are responsible for breaking down the foods we put into our bodies. Foods such as Carbohydrates, Fats, and Proteins. The stomach acids do not work alone, certain enzymes are also needed to break down the foods we eat. (Digestive Enzymes to be exact!) Digestive enzymes are made in the pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and salivary glands.

What are Enzymes?

They are proteins
They help to “speed up” chemical reactions

What are the different Stomach Acids?

Hydrochloric Acid (HCL)
Potassium Chloride (KCL)
Sodium Chloride (Nacl)

So when it comes to Acid Relux these acids can be damaging even though these acids are need by the body.

Two important proteins when we think about Acid Reflux are Pepsinogen and pepsin. Pepsinogen is an inactive protein that is found in the lining of the stomach walls. It becomes activated when digestion begins and enters into the stomach. Once in the stomach Pepsinogen is mixed with Hydrochloric Acid where it then becomes pepsin. Pepsin is highly acidic. That is why when we have Reflux that Reflux contents contain pepsin and that is what causes damage to the esophagus and the throat (for people with LPR).

So the next time you think about Acid Reflux think about what are all these acids and why do we need these acids.